Solving the Equation: (2/5)^x + 3 = (125/8)^x - 1 - (0.4)^2x - 3
In this article, we will solve the equation (2/5)^x + 3 = (125/8)^x - 1 - (0.4)^2x - 3
. This equation involves exponential functions with different bases and exponents, making it a challenging problem. Let's break it down step by step and find the solution.
Step 1: Simplify the Equation
First, let's simplify the equation by rewriting the fractions with a common denominator:
(2/5)^x + 3 = (125/8)^x - 1 - (2/5)^2x - 3
Now, let's rewrite the equation in a more compact form:
(2/5)^x + (2/5)^2x + 4 = (125/8)^x - 1
Step 2: Identify the Pattern
Observe that the left-hand side of the equation has two terms with the same base (2/5)
, with exponents x
and 2x
. We can rewrite the equation as:
(2/5)^x (1 + (2/5)^x) + 4 = (125/8)^x - 1
Step 3: Find the Solution
Now, we can solve for x
. Let's start by equating the two exponential functions:
(2/5)^x (1 + (2/5)^x) = (125/8)^x - 5
Notice that (125/8) = (5/2)^3
, so we can rewrite the equation as:
(2/5)^x (1 + (2/5)^x) = (5/2)^(3x) - 5
Step 4: Solve for x
To solve for x
, we can use the property of exponential functions that states:
a^x = b^x => x = log_a(b)
Applying this property, we get:
x = log_(2/5) ((5/2)^(3x) - 5)
Solving for x
algebraically, we get:
x = log_(2/5) ((5/2)^3 - 5)
Conclusion
In this article, we solved the equation (2/5)^x + 3 = (125/8)^x - 1 - (0.4)^2x - 3
by simplifying the equation, identifying the pattern, and using the properties of exponential functions. The solution is x = log_(2/5) ((5/2)^3 - 5)
.